Liverpool and Celtic legend Sir Kenny Dalglish reveals he is undergoing treatment for cancer
The Scottish football is synonymous with Liverpool’s golden era of success in the late 1970s and mid 1980s
Former Liverpool and Celtic striker and manager Kenny Dalglish has revealed that he is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
The 75-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation, admitted that he wanted to keep the news private but confirmed the diagnosis after accidentally sharing the news in an "inadvertent social media post.”
In a statement on social media which was posted after news broke, the 102-time Scotland international wrote: "I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well.
"Ideally, this would have remained private because that's the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand.
"Obviously I did not mean to make this matter public so I would appreciate it if the privacy of my family and myself are respected.
"As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves."
Dalglish signed his first professional contract for Celtic in 1967 and made his debut a year later. He became a massive player in Jock Stein’s all-conquering team, scoring 173 times in 338 appearances four league titles, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup.
He was signed to replace Kevin Keegan by Liverpool manager Bob Paisley in 1978 for a then British transfer record fee of £440,000 and quickly became a fan favourite at Anfield. Overall, he scored 172 times in 515 appearances for the Reds - all while spearheading them to six league titles, four League Cups, one FA Cup and most notably three European Cups.
Dalglish became player-manager of the Reds in 1986 and was in charge at the time of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans. Dalglish's support for the grieving community in the aftermath has since been described as colossal and heroic. Along with his wife Marina, he reached out to the bereaved, made sure the club were there for them, and insisted on attending the funeral of every fan who had died.
After leaving Liverpool in 1991, Dalglish returned to management with Blackburn Rovers leading them to promotion in 1992 and a Premier League title in 1995.
Dalglish also managed Newcastle United and Celtic later in his managerial career before returning to Liverpool almost 20 years after leaving in 2011. He retired from management in 2012 after winning one further League Cup and has since worked as an ambassador for Liverpool and as a non-executive director.